tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015Sun, 01 Mar 2015 11:50:14 +0000from WYSIWYG to Beginnings 2012Sea Sand and Sky 2007P2P2 2011Pics to Picks 2010from Group R to StrandsNational Exhibition Blenheim 2012tied weavesMental Health PostcardsRandall Darwall Workshop 2006Summer and WinterHow I Made a ShawlA Day in the Life of LoomsW2W15 2015W2W2 2013Weaver to Weaver 2012April Spools DayBye Bye Blue EyesGuest Posts: Why do I Weave ClothBen's HappiUnravellingWeaving, living a life of a weaver, and other unravelling thoughts
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by the Goddess of Procrastination and Expert Forgetterhttp://www.megweaves.co.nz/noreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)Blogger2067125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-6310580154261128470Sat, 28 Feb 2015 11:33:00 +00002015-03-01T06:59:31.350+13:00March, Tomorrow?You know what that means; I resume gardening. In smal doses. Except I'm doing better this year; in January I put in nearly 12 hours, in February, six and a half. Time spent means nothing in this place, but it's still encouraging. I'm trying to normalize gardening in my life, not seeing it as part of cleaning but trying it out as a creative activity. At least therapeutic. OK, just trying, but more on that another day.<br /><br />Weaving is going well I didn't force myself to do anything else in February except tax work. I cooked a lot, ironed tons of Ben's shirt one day, but otherwise I wove. And made drafts. And on good days I could weave much longer than I have been able to for a long while. I haven't touched the fringe/hem pile, but that's OK, too. I've not done a lot else this month that I can remember. Oh, except this month turned out unexpectedly social with mostly out of town visitors: Gerdi and Mike, (I met Gerdi in <a href="http://curiousweaver.id.au/archives/4453">Kaz's class in August</a>, but were they here in January?) Des and Edvaldo who installed <a href="http://www.thesuter.org.nz/whatson.aspx">African masks</a> for the Suter's temporary premise's first exhibition; <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2009/03/remembering-1961-tapa-goes-to-melbourne.html">the Woods</a>; <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/12/on-interacting-with-other-humans.html">JB and Ali</a>; and still possibly Susan, whom I also met at Kaz's. I also had a powwow with Andrea discussing pieces I hope to weave this year. Goodness me, that's a lot of socializing for the basement hermit weaver all of a sudden. <br /><br />I continue to read about van Gogh; I've finally started a small book of selected letters, which is more interesting than I imagined, but he's still in Amsterdam; it's going to get religious. Eventually I'd like to get to <a href="http://www.vangoghgallery.com/letters/">the lot</a>, but for now this small paperback is a good intro. I've also had to recycle one envelope yesterday so I collaged on one side and though this was a quick emergency measure, I was reminded how easy and immediate my kind of collage is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MqeqGSHZ-mU/VPGZK6wt-1I/AAAAAAAARko/4pbBQ_1reAM/s1600/P1400746%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MqeqGSHZ-mU/VPGZK6wt-1I/AAAAAAAARko/4pbBQ_1reAM/s1600/P1400746%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Tomorrow we either weed/trim/clean/spray the approach to out house, or I finish weaving #3 and start #2. <br /><br />I started this post, then watched a film, and now the making part is playing. And it's March already. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/03/march-tomorrow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-6921660621406120836Tue, 24 Feb 2015 07:57:00 +00002015-02-24T23:54:47.505+13:003 Before 2 but After 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0UwvId-Yxdc/VOwuYY52UbI/AAAAAAAARik/S5oR25rCTJg/s1600/P1400637%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0UwvId-Yxdc/VOwuYY52UbI/AAAAAAAARik/S5oR25rCTJg/s1600/P1400637%2B(Medium).JPG" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>This piece is really white and I keep thinking of names associated with weddings and christenings. It's weaving super fast but the right selvedge is not very good. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/3-before-2-but-after-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-9068553967483860018Mon, 23 Feb 2015 08:43:00 +00002015-02-24T23:55:27.417+13:00Done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2-VaC7uXGI/VOrhWqWVy0I/AAAAAAAARh0/7ZPhXi5ox9Q/s1600/54%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2-VaC7uXGI/VOrhWqWVy0I/AAAAAAAARh0/7ZPhXi5ox9Q/s1600/54%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>And this is why I don't even try to estimate weft amount; I thought I had 90-120cm, and I got 201cm.&nbsp; I could have done another pattern unit, (1.5cm,) but I wanted to save the weft in case I come across something similar.<br /><br />There was something right about me weaving this piece; it's in the style I like to weave. It was surprisingly easy and fast, but I'm not sure if I have needles skinny enough to mend, and I can't see the mistakes. This piece is going to be great photographing, if I can capture the sheen. <br /><br />#2 I have the weft but don't like the draft; #3 I have the draft am not 100% sure about the weft, (D in the sample two posts back,) so tomorrow may be Fringe Day 1, or weeding day. <br /><br />When not under tension the warp bunches pucker but I think it goes away in the washing; at least it did in the sampling without pressing. Fingers crossed. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-2731961841490090196Sat, 21 Feb 2015 01:58:00 +00002015-02-21T14:58:56.803+13:00Searching for the New 0,0I felt restless when I finished <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/oh-hot.html">this</a>, noticing the kind of cloth<i> </i>I want to weave started shifting. Then the internal debate subsided while working on <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/that-was-unexpectedly-complicated.html">this</a> because I had to adapt/modify so much. Then I started <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/its-complicated.html">this</a> and the disquiet returned. <br /><br />A while ago I followed a link on Facebook and came across a UK weaver whose work I liked very much; her name was so easy to remember I didn't save the link. Doh! It was a she, her name may have been something like Angela Simpson, but I can't find her. Within my limited knowledge and dodgy recollection, her work was something like Marbo Selby's in Ptolemy Mann colors. I think the article (?) was about interior fabric. Her work appeared fresher, more modern and geometric than my favorite old, upholstery-style fabric.<br /><br />Around the same time, and belatedly, I discovered searching for weaving images works better on Pinterest than Google. I see a lot of familiar pictures there, (your pieces!) along with work by weavers I'd not heard before, among them <a href="http://www.juanitagirardin.com/Collections/HandwovenArchive">Juania Girardin</a> and <a href="http://www.loominarias.com/gallery.html">Loominarias</a>.<br /><br />Because my interest in textile since childhood has been first and foremost the pattern/motif, more is always better and I still suffer from bad shaft envy. But I'm also pragmatic and since I've seen that I'll probably never get more than the current 16, (for which, make no mistake, I'm very grateful,) I've been looking for ways to make my cloth more interesting on 16. Good thing, then, the cloth I liked on Pinterest were often combinations of simple but different structures/patterns, in many colors, in different proportions. <br /><br />Even if I can't add shafts, I've hardly tried "all" the threading yet, and then there's tie-up and treadling. Then there's <a href="http://www.ingedam.net/book.html#.VOfXeS63SDg">Inge Dam's inclusion of card weaving</a>; pickup and other hand-manipulated techniques; something I found on Facebook and lost the link to but can remember, a combination of pickup and treadling to create pictures on double weave. And add texture and colors and I think there's enough material for the next 10, 30, 50 years.&nbsp; But I'll probably always be afflicted with bad shaft envy.&nbsp; <br /><br />Which makes me look at my stash reduction process in a different way. Although I would like it done <i>relatively</i> quickly, (1137 days left,) instead of quick and dirty projects, I should see each as experimentation to build on to get to the next milestone. Or yardstone. <br /><br />I still prefer to make flat cloths, though, so that's that in case you were wondering. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/searching-for-new-00.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-8161743952646307703Fri, 20 Feb 2015 23:14:00 +00002015-02-21T12:14:55.936+13:00It's Complicated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5lYBA0rlXhc/VOezBXaQyvI/AAAAAAAARe0/SkH15MxSEfI/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5lYBA0rlXhc/VOezBXaQyvI/AAAAAAAARe0/SkH15MxSEfI/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>The warp is 72/2 NZ merino in the most luxurious mid-gray in my long career as gray-yarn collector, slightly sticky, but soft. Mill end, I have a few more cones of the gray and several of indigo, but that's it. I kept it at 48EPI; on the loom the reed marks, or "bunches" are uncomfortably evident, but it washes out depending on the weft size.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAO4cnEEOa4/VOezCjSlFEI/AAAAAAAARfE/yDroBnY1ZuQ/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAO4cnEEOa4/VOezCjSlFEI/AAAAAAAARfE/yDroBnY1ZuQ/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>I had culled weft candidates to nine silks; first above is C, the second will be B. A creates a grownup autumnal look but the silk is too dense and obliterates the characteristics of merio; D is roughly the same size but less dense. I have warp for three piece so I suspect it will be A or D. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oROzbMNk1GE/VOezB04cjsI/AAAAAAAARe8/H5LzewAyx1g/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oROzbMNk1GE/VOezB04cjsI/AAAAAAAARe8/H5LzewAyx1g/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></div>The current weft is the brashest white-silver I have ever seen short of synthetics/metallics but it shimmers in this context. I have one small skein, from Mom's stash, and am keeping my fingers and toes crossed I have enough for a descent-length piece. The second piece will have a single, <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2013/06/pics.html">hand-dyed in pomegranate</a>; it's been washed too vigorously the skeins are matted/felted but it is full of old-fashioned charm. (I am going to have to learn the silk jargon finally.) <br /><br />The current piece is a milestone; I have wanted to weave something like this since the first day I wound wefts on a stick shuttle, but it took time collecting the right yarns, practice my techniques, draw up a suitable draft, and, well, getting around to it. It will be light-weight, almost translucent, soft but not airy like cashmere; this piece will drape. The weaving is going well, with nice selvedges. I know it will be a lovely piece, and I'm pleased I'm finally weaving this piece, although in retrospect I could have woven it some years ago, and it would have been even nicer had I stuck to my initial plan and made it twice as wide. No matter, I have checked a big item on my weaving To Do list. And I may try again if I can get suitable yarns again, perhaps silk both ways. And yet...<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, part of me is ecstatic it's worked just as I imagined, it's just the kind of cloth I love, and I've finally done it. But there is a "but"; I have noticed a change in my taste of late and I find this draft too regular and boring; that was my first reaction when I wove the first inch. My ideal cloth has moved a few steps away from me, although I don't know what it looks like. I just know I have to do a bit of innovative thinking and rigorous experimentation. <br /><br />Which is why weaving is so addictive. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/its-complicated.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-5036787405753377161Wed, 18 Feb 2015 08:39:00 +00002015-02-18T22:01:33.717+13:00Big Smile It's a lovely day when a weaver can do weaverly things; today I threaded half of the next project. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFVJDZkjovo/VORSEZ_8jeI/AAAAAAAARdk/HBnxT1Foic4/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFVJDZkjovo/VORSEZ_8jeI/AAAAAAAARdk/HBnxT1Foic4/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>I'm sleying at 48EPI to begin with, which is much too sparse, but I have several different weft candidates and wanted to start around there. Plus, once sleyed, I find it easier to increased the EPI than decrease it.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EslQAd4uvCk/VORSGQmKWdI/AAAAAAAARds/qKKrUzc0gus/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EslQAd4uvCk/VORSGQmKWdI/AAAAAAAARds/qKKrUzc0gus/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a></div>I want to try <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/whats-my-angle.html">the draft on the left</a> to start with. <br /><br />And I made another batch of <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/day-41-of-2015.html">pasta sauce</a>, but I forgot one of the most crucial of ingredients: basil. My bad. I think I'll add dried in this one. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/big-smile.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-2026961169530892835Mon, 16 Feb 2015 07:37:00 +00002015-02-17T16:58:19.927+13:00W2W15 2015(Insert_Witty_Title) / W2W15 Loot Part 2At around 3.30 today, I finished this round of my tax returns. Which should make me happy, at least relieved, but not this year. It took me six halfhearted days; even when I had less of a system and moped, dithered and complained months beforehand, the longest I spent was three or four days. What's worse is it's not going to be any easier without a better scheme, and I've got nothing other than working incrementally. Yikes.<br /><br />And spend as little business-related money as possible, or not claim everything. Anyway, on to prettier things.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9z5Tzajdyo/VOGNbJFs95I/AAAAAAAARco/aJOGDWyWixk/s1600/P1400480%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9z5Tzajdyo/VOGNbJFs95I/AAAAAAAARco/aJOGDWyWixk/s1600/P1400480%2B(Medium).JPG" height="273" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just opened my W2W15 envelope from <a href="https://loomandarty.wordpress.com/">Donni</a> and I was floored! The first thing I noticed was a card with paint strokes of beautiful colors; then a postcard of her town Woolongong, (I always loved saying that name out loud,) with her house marked with an "X"; a small sketchbook, a small painting of what I'm calling "pebbles" in pink, orange, browns, gold and white, (not a combination I would think of but works well because of the different sizes of the pebbles,) and her business card.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But wait, there were four small bags, each containing a photograph and yarns/a woven sample in the color schemes of the photos. (Donni, are you sure you don't want to keep the woven sample??) At first glance I was intrigued by the colors, (and proportion?) she selected to represent each photo. For whatever reason, availability, purpose/end piece, time, she selected specific hues/values and proportion to send me.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I have a visual clue like a photo, I concentrate on my favorite hues and become tempted to use proportionately more of those; I don't worry about values at this point, and I aim for varied/unequal proportions.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm intrigued. I want to observe these images and yarns/woven sample and contemplate different color choices/decisions. Thank you, Donni. </div>http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/insertwittytitle-w2w15-loot-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-1890210139875422876Sun, 15 Feb 2015 01:13:00 +00002015-02-15T14:13:32.238+13:00Hari KuyohI noticed <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/search/label/A%20Day%20in%20the%20Life%20of%20Looms">Day in the Life of Looms</a> being interpreted as occasions to "show what's <i>on</i> the loom". While I don't mind different/personal takes, and though I never explained it here, I thought you might be interested in why I came up with the idea on New Year's Eve 2009. This may also explain why my photos are more about the looms than the projects. <br /><br />In Japan, we have traditions, in various areas of life and in different trades, to thank our tools, and they differ from region to region. From what I picked up in the fog of my youth from older women from different parts of the country, and thought silly and superstitious then, is we put to rest broken tools with thanks, (some we burn at shrines/temples, some we bury, and some we release in rivers,) or express unequivocal appreciation to each tool. Which may or may not coincide with its annual maintenance. Every new kitted sawing box comes with a broken needle case.<br /><br />I wouldn't be surprised at all if similar traditions exist(ed) in other places, but the only occasions that comes close that I know of are the blessing of the fishing fleets, or bringing back the palms before Easter. <br /><br />So here's a Wiki link to "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari-Kuyo">Hari Kuyoh</a>"; "hari" being needle/s; the word "kuyoh" has no equivalent in English, but the closest concept would be a memorial service. This is the most common thanking-of-tools, and as a kid I thought of this as a mothers' and grandmothers' mini celebration. But I can imagine professional menfolk in Western-style and Kimono tailoring do similar. <br /><br />And to this end, we've been doing a better job on <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/search/label/April%20Spools%20Day">April Spools Day</a>. Yeah? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1DocJ3tSBc/VN_ylLzMRYI/AAAAAAAARcI/9yuFvaS-RNs/s1600/P1400464%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1DocJ3tSBc/VN_ylLzMRYI/AAAAAAAARcI/9yuFvaS-RNs/s1600/P1400464%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/hari-kuyoh.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-5215313388396289353Sat, 14 Feb 2015 07:36:00 +00002015-02-14T20:40:23.381+13:00W2W15 2015Tax Returns Hell / W2W15 Loot Part 1I've been in a foul mood because I've never felt less inclined to do my tax returns, ever. <br /><br />My "business" is so tiny legally I don't have to file, but I have a wonderful accountant, (who is also a painter,) who recommends I do because I some years I get some money back. I pay her more, so there must be another good reason which I don't understand, but more than a few times they've been able to make hefty bills from the government disappear. (ACC invoices, Kiwis.) <br /><br />Still, it's supposed to be a yearly maintenance of some sort, being reminded I don't make any money weaving; theoretically I can check the trends/changes/increases in our cost of living. Theoretically I'm supposed to fine-tune my goals, aims, target, I guess. And I do have this compulsion to be in the system for when I reach pension age, although I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing in New Zealand. Let's call it Lent in an otherwise cruisey life. <br /><br />One reason why I'm so frustrated this year is the decrease in paper bills/statements and the need to go to gazillion websites/accounts to print out necessary as evidence. As you all probably know. All websites are different <i>and</i> ever-changing at the pleasure of their IT depts. More websites/companies no longer consider the need for printed statements, so for example with Audible.com, (I <i>love</i> their products and their staff; they help you by chat, <i>immediately</i>,) I have to go to the membership record for the monthly credits paid, and another to see all purchases including paid purchases and freebies but excluding membership/credit payment, and the only way to print paid purchases is by screen capture, not necessarily with the Audible logo. <br /><br />Some years I tried to work my accounts incrementally, but because international payments didn't appear on my bank statement for a while, (and the bank's calculation always different from mine,) because bills didn't arrive consistently/regularity, etc, etc, it was easier to work once a year. My account could be done in two days if I hunkered down anyway.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />I had some inkling last year, and I tried to purchase books from a small number of companies for e.g. but this year I spent one and a half days printing out bills/statements to check duplications with paper receipts/statements/invoices and emails. Plus I have Japanese documents in YYYY/MM/DD format; US and Japanese receipts in MM/DD/YY; Kiwi, Aussie and UK and one Japanese company using DD/MM/YY; and this time one Canadian and one Italian. <br /><br />Starting in April, I'll try what Ben suggested; work on accounts monthly, one or two months after the fact, so all statements/bills/invoices are available.&nbsp; After having wasted four halfhearted days this week, I think I've two more to go.&nbsp; (Insert naughty words.)<br /><br />Anyway, with the end in sight, I thought I could open one of the two W2W15 envelopes as a reward. So look at what <a href="http://shetreadles.blogspot.com/">Margery</a> sent me!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Jk1CXkT1pQ/VN737KpxrMI/AAAAAAAARb4/wLX9eOWrb6U/s1600/P1400446%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Jk1CXkT1pQ/VN737KpxrMI/AAAAAAAARb4/wLX9eOWrb6U/s1600/P1400446%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>I opened it just now so I haven't given each item due attention, but my favorite is her handspun Merino/Tussah; dreamy lovely colors and texture; it gives me an appreciation for the kind of texture her woven scarves might have. No, wait, the woven sample in colors sympathetic to the Floria postcards, in the same weave structure as <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/01/ha-ha-ha-strange-neighbor.html">the fabric covering the notebook she gave me</a>, but in a different scale; you have got to feel this to fully appreciate it. No, the tiny seashell sitting on the magazine. No, the elegant long leaf pine leaf on the brown envelope; at first I thought they were delicate knitting needles. But I love the colors in the purply postcard, and Margery used a magenta pen. OK, so my favorite may not be the gator.<br /><br />Thank you, Margery. A good end to a taxing day.http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/tax-returns-hell-w2w15-loot-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-7351302827327544901Wed, 11 Feb 2015 07:25:00 +00002015-02-20T09:48:44.964+13:00W2W15 2015W2W15 LinksIn spite of my best intention to start the tax work today, a Windows update got in a way, my small laptop getting stuck at Installing Page 2 of 22 for over three hours until Ben came home to remedy it. Frustrating, and more tiring than if I had actually done some work; I actually look forward to tomorrow when I can work on it.&nbsp; <br /><br />Here are some posts relating to weaverly love some of us received this year. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://loomandarty.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/weaverly-thinks/">Donni</a> - <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/tax-returns-hell-w2w15-loot-part-1.html">Meg</a> - <a href="http://sampling-sampling.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/weaver-to-weaver-2015.html">Sampling</a> - <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/insertwittytitle-w2w15-loot-part-2.html">Meg</a> - <a href="http://shetreadles.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/weaving-taxes-or-chai.html">Margery</a> -<a href="http://www.saltspringweaving.com/blog/?p=1769">Terri</a></div>http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/w2w15.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-1550340219551592406Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:15:00 +00002015-02-24T23:56:31.798+13:00Day 41 of 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGKoxpDfKuw/VNmx7zxLBPI/AAAAAAAARaU/xzOW7HRiqdc/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGKoxpDfKuw/VNmx7zxLBPI/AAAAAAAARaU/xzOW7HRiqdc/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>Today I finished weaving the piece in the previous post. The beating is irregular, and I have no idea what kind of a shape it will end up with two yarns in the warp and four in the weft, but I'm not worried. I had to concentrate on the treadling, on weaving with a stick shuttle as long as from my shoulder to the tip of my second longest finger, and feeling the pattern weft every step of the way to extract still more plant material. The colors look pretty good in this picture. <br /><br />This was high-maintenance weaving, but surprisingly enjoyable, (even though it's not the "style" of weaving I usually enjoy,) and more to the point, easy and fast. Before I started this project, I felt the desire to adjust my weaving direction slightly but I wasn't sure which way; I still don't know where I'm going aesthetically, and no doubt I can recycle the draft post once I know a little better, but I think I get more satisfaction out of high-maintenance projects.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9g0QbJcWvk/VNmx8qr2eEI/AAAAAAAARag/6RvhY7WQeik/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9g0QbJcWvk/VNmx8qr2eEI/AAAAAAAARag/6RvhY7WQeik/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Now I have 12 pieces to mend, fringe/hem, wash, tag, label and deliver to<a href="http://www.thesuter.org.nz/"> the temporary Suter Gallery</a> which opened yesterday. I can't see too many of mine in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/205670502808649/photos/a.527445033964526.1073741825.205670502808649/849271405115219/?type=1">their FB store shot</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJNCS6jcIXQ/VNmx8Ab4tII/AAAAAAAARaY/3o0xOa5TivU/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJNCS6jcIXQ/VNmx8Ab4tII/AAAAAAAARaY/3o0xOa5TivU/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>I hadn't woven for ten days as I have inadvertently become a keen weeder, a reader, and an enthusiastic cook. Although it's still hot and sunny, I have been outside somewhat regularly and feel anxious on days I don't get out; it's probably been around 12 years since I ventured out in the hot period between December and February. I'm on my third or fourth van Gogh of the year; I'm even picking up on the general attitude towards the artist at different eras in the last 125 years. And finally, the appreciation for the season that started in spring continues; it's the harvest season and although my own tomatoes are green, toms are cheap now and I made two batches of slow-roast pasta sauce in two days. <br /><br />I'd like to say I shall keep weeding and weaving, but alas I have to do my tax returns in the next ten days. Then back to my lovely life. I've also received two W2W15 envelopes yesterday; I'm using them as my carrots for my tax work but I'll show them to you in due course. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/02/day-41-of-2015.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-108339526270715476Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:47:00 +00002015-02-01T12:13:43.621+13:00That was Unexpectedly ComplicatedThe next stash busting project was supposed to be simple; I imagined matching a nice warp with an interesting weft, but I've been working on this for several days, thinking on my feet as it were, and proceeding with caution.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RHZv0vjwzI/TwkEz0mIjUI/AAAAAAAALKU/lvPSVHifsAw/s1600/P1290156+%25281024x758%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RHZv0vjwzI/TwkEz0mIjUI/AAAAAAAALKU/lvPSVHifsAw/s320/P1290156+%25281024x758%2529.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2012/01/dread.html">The warp</a>: gray wool overdyed with walnut husks, 3.3 meters, 162 ends.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YL9Au14WNN0/VJKLYA7WhtI/AAAAAAAAQ9c/Kf5p9iZVBPU/s1600/2a%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YL9Au14WNN0/VJKLYA7WhtI/AAAAAAAAQ9c/Kf5p9iZVBPU/s1600/2a%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/12/slowly-but-gradually.html">The weft</a>: Mom's hand-dyed, handspun wool, deliberately spun super bumpy, unknown wool, five skeins in various sizes. (The fat ones on the sides.) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3wSN54hnJ0/VMdQtq2i4tI/AAAAAAAARVU/bixwLbdqjzo/s1600/27%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3wSN54hnJ0/VMdQtq2i4tI/AAAAAAAARVU/bixwLbdqjzo/s1600/27%2B(Medium).jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>I wanted to show off the weft so the sett was to be a little spread out than usual for the size of the yarn, 8 EPI; this made the piece slightly narrower than desirable, so I added two stripes in a thicker black wool but with similar flecks of colors as the one I dyed, using the top of the loom and a lamp! (Yarn colors in this photo is probably the closest to the real colors.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1IXVnPUEYo/VMno7J33IEI/AAAAAAAARWU/aBHGAOsGgNc/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1IXVnPUEYo/VMno7J33IEI/AAAAAAAARWU/aBHGAOsGgNc/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>Again, to show off the weft, I settled on a simple wavy design, but this took almost an afternoon to fine-tune.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HCOdYXLhVY/VMns1Wde_rI/AAAAAAAARWo/UDykIIIy-_I/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HCOdYXLhVY/VMns1Wde_rI/AAAAAAAARWo/UDykIIIy-_I/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></div>With the loom dressed and sample considered, I calculated the handspun to weave about 140cm of the piece, so I needed to dilute without distracting so the piece will end up 180-220cm. I added tabby, which added "hidden" colors. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dG1lUSOCfB4/VMns0VcwieI/AAAAAAAARWg/m6Kv6IShghU/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dG1lUSOCfB4/VMns0VcwieI/AAAAAAAARWg/m6Kv6IShghU/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;These are the weft finalists. (Slightly bluer here than in real life.) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NnmUEEGuZY/VMns1PBXTBI/AAAAAAAARWk/ETPRZvOLxwo/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NnmUEEGuZY/VMns1PBXTBI/AAAAAAAARWk/ETPRZvOLxwo/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>To show enough of the warp's gray in the fiished cloth, weaving is loose but beating depends on the size of the weft in each row. I'm not sure if you can see three tabby colors.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6c98zx9BK6k/VMns2Mgyz7I/AAAAAAAARW4/dL3MmTszFLI/s1600/4%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6c98zx9BK6k/VMns2Mgyz7I/AAAAAAAARW4/dL3MmTszFLI/s1600/4%2B(Medium).jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>I can see the shapes if I step back.<br /><br />With a long stick shuttle, and tabby, this piece weaves slowly; yarn texture is wiry, yarn size not delicate; I don't know how much of the tabby colors will contribute to the overall look, and the end product will be light but "bulky". I'm not sure how much of the planning will have been worthwhile, but it has been unexpectedly pleasurable. <br /><br />I estimate three more days of weaving, because it requires more concentration than usual.<br /><br />But it's been interesting.&nbsp; http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/that-was-unexpectedly-complicated.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-4673506644900319598Tue, 27 Jan 2015 09:44:00 +00002015-01-27T22:57:30.297+13:00That Space Surrounding the HabitatHas it been a month since the longest day? I noticed last week the shadows began to fall differently during the day. It's been a hot, dry summer and even though the hottest temperatures can occur at the end of January or in February, I think it's safe to say autumn is hiding in plain sight. The cicadas are certainly boisterous.<br /><br />This time of year I feel sad everybody else's veg patch are beautiful and bountiful, gardens filled with flowers, and regret not having worked harder. Not this year; I have a small patch, but more importantly, I worked hard in 2014, (albeit with big breaks,) and clocked 116.5 hours weeding and digging and planting. That's a whole lot for a bona vide indoors person. And though the viney weeds look worse than ever, (I've never seen anything like this; I swear weeding, digging and, heaven forbid, putting in compost encourage them rather than deter,) I started to look forward to the coming autumn/winter.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RqtCM8RASjE/VMbQ_zpnM0I/AAAAAAAARVA/Ro-pZk2b178/s1600/toms%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bshade%2B(Small)%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RqtCM8RASjE/VMbQ_zpnM0I/AAAAAAAARVA/Ro-pZk2b178/s1600/toms%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bshade%2B(Small)%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>In spite of clovers coming back with gusto, tomatoes big and small are ripening, I'm going to have enough garlic to braid for the first time, and I still might get dwarf beans or peppers.&nbsp; <br /><br />We moved into our house 18 years and a few days ago. And since it doesn't look like I'll be moving to an old city with stone buildings, a university with a robust lecture program, or galleries with robust exhibition schedule, I might as well love living where I am. And I know many Kiwis take to gardening as a creative process rather than part of grunt work.<br /><br />I weeded and pruned for 40 minutes today. I'm trying to change my perspective. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/that-space-surrounding-habitat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-2064941365577161591Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:57:00 +00002015-01-21T01:57:55.848+13:00What's My Angle?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayrE2ICQiTQ/VL5QH6nCbiI/AAAAAAAARTI/cICx86q4ofQ/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayrE2ICQiTQ/VL5QH6nCbiI/AAAAAAAARTI/cICx86q4ofQ/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>Insomnia talking..http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/whats-my-angle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-8615357600395791078Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:57:00 +00002015-02-24T23:57:46.254+13:00Another Day <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5o8v7xjuXmo/VL4WzPFbJwI/AAAAAAAARSo/tA_zLFuc0kM/s1600/like%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5o8v7xjuXmo/VL4WzPFbJwI/AAAAAAAARSo/tA_zLFuc0kM/s1600/like%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Like.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohkE1qp_Axs/VL4WzrOw0xI/AAAAAAAARSs/0kPuLnaHUHQ/s1600/not%2Blike%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohkE1qp_Axs/VL4WzrOw0xI/AAAAAAAARSs/0kPuLnaHUHQ/s1600/not%2Blike%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Don't like. The word "childish" keeps coming back to me; I think I equate "not fussy" with child-like or simple. At least these look different from each other. <br /><br />I finished the third piece on the navy cashmere warp, and started the fourth. And after that's done, I have to go on a mend/fringe/hem/wash/press binge. I'll have accumulated ten pieces. I'm particularly looking forward to see how these two will finish. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/not-like.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-6358849750661740213Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:21:00 +00002015-01-19T20:21:10.101+13:00Well, Yeah...I finished the warp, but I'm not thrilled about the first piece. So my nectarines will tell you how I feel.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hAEh7P1kE8/VLywK20FUzI/AAAAAAAARSI/vKAxHSiO4WI/s1600/P1400258%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hAEh7P1kE8/VLywK20FUzI/AAAAAAAARSI/vKAxHSiO4WI/s1600/P1400258%2B(Medium).JPG" height="151" width="320" /></a></div><br />http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/well-yeah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-604051954501156170Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:17:00 +00002015-01-18T18:17:26.224+13:00When Second is Better than FirstI had hoped to make a draft somehow resembling pohutukawa flowers, lines radiating from the center of circles. While working on the computer, Antiques Roadshow UK was on, and though I wasn't exactly watching, I now see which item caught my attention: a set of gold-plated Victorian (?) faux Greek jewelry. Apparently folks liked dressing up back then. Said item was a set of two earrings (?) and a bigger pendant-head-like item that could have been worn on the forehead (??). The draft also reminds me of black and white photos of reconstructed artifacts, coins and seals I used to pour over as a kid.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vfHnW-QjpU/VLs_Gft6NuI/AAAAAAAARRk/C_j4frrfSWg/s1600/P1400231%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vfHnW-QjpU/VLs_Gft6NuI/AAAAAAAARRk/C_j4frrfSWg/s1600/P1400231%2B(Medium).JPG" height="123" width="320" /></a></div>I like it, but they are no pohutukawas, and I'll have to forego names like "<a href="http://www.newzealand.com/int/kaiteriteri/">Kaiteriteri</a>" and "<a href="http://www.newzealand.com/int/marahau/">Marahau</a>", but that's OK. I wanted to weave almost all of this piece but I wove quite a bit yesterday and my body was thinking of complaining, so I took it easy today. But I took this feel good pic.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zW9rw-sUti4/VLtBsZnirdI/AAAAAAAARRw/VwXqwnnINKQ/s1600/sore%2Beyes%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zW9rw-sUti4/VLtBsZnirdI/AAAAAAAARRw/VwXqwnnINKQ/s1600/sore%2Beyes%2B(Medium).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/when-second-is-better-than-first.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-3202758203129534243Sat, 17 Jan 2015 07:36:00 +00002015-01-17T20:36:51.120+13:00Oh, Hot!!The temperature, that is. It's rare I work up a sweat in my basement workshop, but today I did. Which was nice because I've been dismayed at how unproductive I've been this year; my not-real-un-wellness is tiresome.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4l5ZlI8enCo/VLoI9kt3XgI/AAAAAAAARP4/qdqfUuQOUZQ/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4l5ZlI8enCo/VLoI9kt3XgI/AAAAAAAARP4/qdqfUuQOUZQ/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="141" width="320" /></a></div>I finished threading yesterday and sampled some weft colors. I had intended to use just one color, the pale teal around the middle, for the first piece and only wanted to know what to use for the second.&nbsp; Except I liked the darker teal, second from the top, better so I decided on that for the first piece. I thought it best to sleep on it.<br /><br />I was also pleasantly surprised at how well I could see the design using bouclé, (pink. and purple/green variegated towards the top.) I don't know what I'll do with the second piece yet. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5j4IHAhQngM/VLoI9Mp4yuI/AAAAAAAARP0/j3047LAHEaY/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5j4IHAhQngM/VLoI9Mp4yuI/AAAAAAAARP0/j3047LAHEaY/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>So I started out with the darker teal, but the color interactions were boring I decided to change weft colors. Looking back, I should have changed colors more frequently, as in the sample, but too late. I'm nearly done weaving the first piece.&nbsp; <br /><br />It's been a while since I've woven big designs so I'm enjoying that, but the color combinations/proportions are too simplistic; I kept thinking of including the word "toy" in naming this piece. The bottom picture shows the colors more accurately than the top, but it's even less saturated. All these colors can be seen in any old New Zealand beach in the summer.&nbsp; <br /><br />I've usually used this warp yarn at 18EPI to full fully, but this was sleyed at 20EPI because 18EPI makes the piece <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/10/and-in-next-little-while-part-uno.html">too wide to weave comfortably</a>. In combination with the dull possum/merino/silk weft, this made the warp yarn's sheen more noticeable, and the weft PMS pucker more even before washing. I'm not sure if the finished cloth will be as fluffy as this combination usually does, but I'm looking forward to the shine/dull contrast. <br /><br />Confession: this is a short warp, for only two pieces, with not much allowance for sampling, so after checking the color combination in the wee sample, I didn't cut if off and wash but started the piece immediately. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa-bRcGHB2Y/VLoOeJi4DLI/AAAAAAAARQM/G8k4etF0GW8/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa-bRcGHB2Y/VLoOeJi4DLI/AAAAAAAARQM/G8k4etF0GW8/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>I had a tentative draft for the second piece but I don't like it so I need to make one tonight.http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/oh-hot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-871328662736166273Thu, 15 Jan 2015 21:32:00 +00002015-02-14T20:41:49.174+13:00W2W15 2015What a Difference a Day MakesOr a good night's sleep in this case.&nbsp; <br /><br />My head, or body, (but most definitely not <i>I</i>,) got stuck in a weird pattern, letting me sleep between four and five hours every night with a long break in the middle, for the past three weeks. Exercise would have been good, but sun/heat and that recurring hip problem left me wondering what the heck I could have done. (And just how on earth do my left and right feet manage to get inflamed when I'm taking things this easy?) Then we had a couple of cooler, overcast days and Wednesday I crashed and slept, slept and slept, and Wednesday night I slept right through until the alarm went off. <br /><br />Oh, joy.<br /><br />Looking back, it could have been a curious physiology experiment, akin to poets and painters working on acid. Except not getting enough sleep just doesn't sound glamorous, so I shall put off becoming the first Tripping Weaver. Unless I mean my usual manner of tripping.<br /><br />Depression and insomnia go hand in hand and I knew this exhaustion felt different from depressive lethargy; it <i>was</i> more physical, and I was too tired for guilt.&nbsp; <br /><br />But I've been compensated because I read some; mostly Philip Roth, (hate all the sex in his fiction but love his evocation of times and places; find his non-fiction a bit heavy but I'm staying with them,) but also a short Elena Farrante, an Oliver Sacks, and now Diana Athill; not bad for a sluggish, slothy reader.&nbsp; And while washing dishes or cooking, I've been listening to biographical clips <a href="http://www.webofstories.com/">on this website</a>. (Desmond Morris was most entertaining.) <br /><br />A couple of days ago multiple friends posted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10151806296310039&amp;fref=nf">this clip from Doctor Who's Vincent episode</a>, which I hadn't seen; it's a nice, romantic view of a man I'm convinced was diabolically rude, drunk, and self-absorbed, and yet I missed him. After my random reading spree, I shall return to reading about him.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyOc1E1ebHg/VLguwbMxlwI/AAAAAAAARPE/g584mM5g-hM/s1600/P1400188%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyOc1E1ebHg/VLguwbMxlwI/AAAAAAAARPE/g584mM5g-hM/s1600/P1400188%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Yesterday I assembled my Weaver to Weaver material. This morning I shall finish threading the <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/12/ive-not-been-able-to-sleep-well-for.html">Christmas warp</a>. Then Skye with Mom later. I lost the phone line for most of yesterday, which was soothing and relaxing after the first 20 minutes. <br /><br />I'll mention one book for those who may be interested. While his aging father was dying of a brain tumor, Philip Roth wrote what was happening, (not exactly a journal, though I don't know if he intended to publish as he wrote,) which became "Patrimony: A True Story". It's not as complicated as his other non-fiction, and I so wished I had read it before my last visit with Dad two years ago.<br /><br />Right. Normal operation resumes now.&nbsp; http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/what-difference-day-makes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-1523111984340605848Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:11:00 +00002015-01-11T09:38:32.874+13:00ForgettingIt may be incongruous to follow the last post with this; this one is about forgetting.<br /><br />While in college, I did an independent study on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima">Mishima Yukio's tetraology</a>. He wrote a lot about aristocracy, of which, from memory, he may have been a part, but the stories sounded utterly foreign to me. Near the start of the first novel, a young aristocratic woman becomes pregnant, her family gives the child away, and sends her to a nunnery. Towards the conclusion of the last novel, a young man, possibly a descendent, visits the nun now in her 80s and asks her about the child. She replies, ever so politely but untroubled: "Something like that may have happened, but it was such long ago, I cannot recall." <br /><br />In my 20's, I thought this was a wonderfully likely, prototypical reply from someone of her class, illusive, remorseless, no obligation to disclose. Aristocratic of worrier class women of the past in Japan often became nuns after being disgraced, such as by male heads-of-family loosing title, or becoming widowed in war, but they were not subjected to poverty, hard labor or much self-denial.<br /><br />Except it may not be just that. Mom's been saying the same, with a similar attitude, about her past for a couple of years. I can't remember concrete examples, but I clearly remember being reminded of the novels, (which I hadn't thought of in decades,) the first time she said it a year and a half ago, and she didn't remember some seminal moments in my life.<br /><br />I have <i>always</i> had bad memory even as a child/student, so it came with no surprise when I started noticing how little of my past I remember, but of late I have big blocks I can't recall. For example, even though I was a kid who liked school, I have little memory of school, even up to university, a phase in my life I looked forward to all my life. I also remember oh-so-little this side of coming to New Zealand. And the magnitude of the completeness of having-forgotten-ness astounds me. <br /><br />And then there are different kinds of remembering. There are events I definitely remember, like the numerous times I was told by my parents to "enjoy the view" when we travelled in the US; I did not know the meaning of the word "view" so this troubled me to no end, but because my parents were in such awe I had to feign reverence, and by the time we got to Grand Canyon I had my act down pat. When they said, "look at the mountain/river/sunset/cactus," however, as a three/four/five-year-old, I was somewhat repulsed grownups were impressed by such mundane stuff.<br /><br />I remember driving quite a long way into the country in Minnesota with <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2009/03/remembering-1961-tapa-goes-to-melbourne.html">Mr and Mrs Woods</a> once; and I had to have a nap because I was expected to stay up late. Came the evening and there were a whole bunch of us sitting on one side of a body of water, and some fire and a few folks on another side, which was at first intriguing but it went on far too long for a wee one. Decades later, I asked Ron about it, and it turned out it was a outdoor, evening performance of Tale of Haiwatha across the lake, and the grownups enjoyed the occasion very much. Rightly so! <br /><br />I don't know if my parents didn't explain things, or if I was a particularly dull or distracted child, but most of my childhood was spent trying to figure out my role, the rules, the game itself. It still is often. <br /><br />And then there is the other kind of remembering; events I think I remember, or should remember, because of repeated retelling and/or photographs and memorabilia, but for which I have no physical memory. For example, while in kindergarten, Michelle's mom and mine took turns carpooling, and apparently we fought so much sometimes Mom had to stop and tell us to get out.&nbsp; It went on for a whole school year, but I don't have a physical memory of it, though sometime in my past I apparently constructed a memory of being crammed in a VW-like narrow burgundy back seat of mom's car with Michelle, angry, screaming, and probably kicking the back of the front seat. Every time Mom retells the story, I "recall" this. Except neither of our 1960's cars had narrow back seats, especially for two five-year-olds, and probably not burgundy. I'll have to check with Mom. &nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CaWeOvV4hyA/VLC-t2AWsSI/AAAAAAAARNg/7w7WQgWM3Kg/s1600/p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CaWeOvV4hyA/VLC-t2AWsSI/AAAAAAAARNg/7w7WQgWM3Kg/s1600/p.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>This is Dad, Mom and me the day before Dad left for the US on a freight ship in 1961. I have no recollection of this day, but have constructed a "remembering" because we have so many photos. I do remember, however, a few nights later, Mom singing to me in the dark, both of us sitting on the couch, I balling my eyes out because I missed Dad. I know which song, and I remember the yellow light above the sink. (Dad took the Greyhound bus from San Francisco to Minneapolis, learned the lay of the land, rented an apartment, and possibly got his driver's license and a car, before we arrived.)<br /><br />Not remembering much from my past doesn't bother me so much, but I do wonder what new changes I have to accommodate in my future. As it is, I have to learn something so many times before I can really learn it. And I keep practicing whatever I learned, often and periodically, or I have to relearn it. Again.<br /><br />I'm not keeping <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2013/12/these-days.html">a diary</a> this year; I was too lazy to last year and it ended up a weekly bullet list of things I remembered doing. Last Wednesday, the 7th, I already couldn't remember what I did on the 2nd and the 3rd. It's already been an interesting year. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/forgetting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-3755900416428217995Fri, 09 Jan 2015 23:44:00 +00002015-01-10T16:44:29.377+13:00Unchain My HeartNot so long ago, I swore I wouldn't make new warp chains until I used up all I've made already. Well, that didn't last long.<br /><br />Wednesday afternoon I made balls out of skeins from the wool I brought downstairs, all the while gazing at the cones on the shelf, thinking and not thinking. I reached the conclusion I would make warp chains with merino/mohair mixes.<br /><br />I don't like mohair; I can't wear it, and it's itchy and sneezey to work with; I need antihistamines and still work through itchy eyes, face and arms. And when used with my favorite 18/2 merino warps, the m/m is skinnier and takes longer to weave. But the m/m works wonderfully with merino in creating that lovely shine/dull contrast, and I had far more m/m than merino, ergo the warp chains.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjTpr06jPPU/VLBQ_Qd4aaI/AAAAAAAARM4/PjN_UKjG4S8/s1600/Post1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjTpr06jPPU/VLBQ_Qd4aaI/AAAAAAAARM4/PjN_UKjG4S8/s1600/Post1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="155" width="320" /></a></div>I made wide black, wide white, narrow purple variegated with black stripes, and narrow and short blue variegated merino/mohair warps, plus a blue variegated possum/merino/silk one. All but the blue m/m are my usual "8 meter" warps. I don't have much 18/2 merino left, so I'll also use other wool, possum/merino/silk, merino bouclé, perhaps knitting angora, and who knows, maybe even silk.<br /><br />There were only two small cones of the blue m/m, so I wanted a black warp with blue stripes towards the sides, i.e. narrow black/narrow blue/wide black middle bit/narrow blue/narrow black. But I didn't want very skinny stripes so I made the warp just long enough for one piece, and hoped to figure out how many blue ends I could get, and then work out the rest. This being a short warp, I was going to tie it on to the purple warp.<br /><br />Except I ended up with more ends than in the purple warp, of which I have perhaps 80cm left. So I needed extra black ends to go in as narrow strips in the <i>purple</i> warp. You may laugh. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9ll4PsySRs/VLBRUWUTb9I/AAAAAAAARNA/Zlr7XGwtjzo/s1600/Post2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9ll4PsySRs/VLBRUWUTb9I/AAAAAAAARNA/Zlr7XGwtjzo/s1600/Post2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>There was one more cone I wanted to use up, but decided against it. This cone came instead of variegated 100% merino I ordered, and when I inquired, I was told it was a discontinued yarn, "more expensive than the one you ordered". ??? It's very harsh, I hated their response, and I stuck it in the bottom back corner of the big wool box perhaps a decade ago; it only dawned on me yesterday this is worsted.<br /><br />In fact, half the yarns I turned into warp were expensive "mistakes" from the two sources from whom I used to buy not small amounts regularly, whose products I promoted every chance I had. I'd forgotten, but dug up with the wool, these memories, but it's been good exposing myself to yarns I have, to take immediate action, an exorcizing of sorts. (I also got a whole bunch of some of the best weaving yarns in New Zealand from them, to be sure.)&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />Though I still don't know what to do with the worsted. &nbsp; <br /><br />And while making the chains, I wondered if I could rework the lovely <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/11/lament.html">Lament draft</a> using only black and white in the warp. Stripes aren't appealing on paper, (well, the screen.) Half-and-half, maybe, if I have a weft in the right gray. Or something else. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiNe51VbxB4/VLB4gcjwAnI/AAAAAAAARNQ/eNpS5DomBu0/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiNe51VbxB4/VLB4gcjwAnI/AAAAAAAARNQ/eNpS5DomBu0/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>I've also been besotted by this color combo, (to which no photos can do justice, believe me, I've been trying,) but I don't have a concrete idea beyond loving the yellow-green Japanese silk with the red alpaca/silk, (slightly bluer, neutral red,) nor if I need the "support" burgundy merino for added interest. The lovely alpaca/silk was gifted to me by <a href="https://fibresofbeing.wordpress.com/">Judy</a> <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2011/04/and-rest.html">a while back</a>.&nbsp; <br /><br />The fun never ends. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpz1Rsiw0AU">Especially with Old Joe keeping me company</a>. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/unchain-my-heart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-1486524898431392863Wed, 07 Jan 2015 08:27:00 +00002015-01-07T21:27:33.876+13:00In a Manner of Speaking<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZwBU6Yll4I/VKzkb8Dm2iI/AAAAAAAARLU/FXDYqdRpRsk/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZwBU6Yll4I/VKzkb8Dm2iI/AAAAAAAARLU/FXDYqdRpRsk/s1600/2%2B(Medium).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_WGXFEh10Y/VKzkKFcGXKI/AAAAAAAARLM/RXGUUaWo1Rg/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_WGXFEh10Y/VKzkKFcGXKI/AAAAAAAARLM/RXGUUaWo1Rg/s1600/1%2B(Medium).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>The Stash Room tidying job is finished, sort of. It's an interim measure: it's less dangerous, I can fetch things, and I can weave on two of the three small looms in there. You can even see parts of table tops. <br /><br />I went through the wool stash and brought half downstairs. In the beginning I chose yarns about 18/2-16/2 or ones which would work well in combination, but the policy blurred in the afternoon heat. It was lovely to handle the yarns, as you can well imagine.<br /><br />I came across a few cones of old, fine-ish wool, possibly Polesworth, harsh, all but one in dull colors. I contemplated "downloading'" them to the Hospice Shop but kept them because they are old, so most probably with scales, and potentially great material to do something different. <br /><br />The cotton and linen box had some knitting cottons I bought at the dawn of my weaving days; they will be used in a few color-and-weave type projects as I bought reasonable number of cones in coordinating colors. I also have some I have <i>no</i> idea what to do at the moment. I also have three or four synthetic decoratives; they look wonderful but I only use biodegradable yarns so I'm not sure if they will be culled in the next round.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iiApBLScErc/VKzk9z6VBYI/AAAAAAAARLk/-cGl8p9pBdk/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iiApBLScErc/VKzk9z6VBYI/AAAAAAAARLk/-cGl8p9pBdk/s1600/3%2B(Medium).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>The silk box, I stuffed everything on the floor back into the box but the skeins and balls have more than doubled in volume while resting beautifully on the floor. (Yes, this box used to close, and I have one skein downstairs so I technically have fewer items here!) This box I hope to revisit soon as I'd really like to use silks, perhaps in combination with wool or cotton at first. I'm still intimidated by silk.&nbsp; <br /><br />I have two and a half pillow cases of wool to be spun, in addition to <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/11/a-little-overwhelmed-and-plenty-pleased.html">Elizabeth's merino</a>. The ones in the pillowcases, I can spin in a week or two, and I hope to finish this this summer. Because I want bumpy, irregular singles, this won't take much time.&nbsp; <br /><br />Some years ago when I thought I "had" to venture into "textile art", I collected one supermarket-bag-full of interesting swatches. I think I had in mind a combination of embroidery, beading and patchwork/assembling in mind, but a) I could never see where I was going with it, and b) I preferred to spend the time on weaving; I gave it up pretty quickly. The swatches went into the trash. The beads I kept, though, because earlier in the week <a href="http://bonnietarses.com/">Bonnie Tarses</a> shared <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203618739816876&amp;set=a.2730739675500.2113995.1467488825&amp;type=1&amp;fref=nf&amp;pnref=story">this picture</a> on Facebook and I was smitten.<br /><br />I didn't touch the collage material, that's for another day, but I cleaned and reorganized my art supplies. I found all the acrylic work I did in August is now one big wad; they're drying, once again, in the living room but I won't rework then at this time. <br /><br />I confirmed what I long suspected; in our house wind blows from north and west because even though yesterday was pretty breezy and nice until late afternoon, even though trees were rustling gently outside the east- and south-facing windows, no air came in. I haven't spent much time in my "design" room because it's only ever been stash storage. I used to iron in this room while looking at the cones on the shelves; I can do it again now.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0LQeYPiz2s/VKzkx_-_4cI/AAAAAAAARLc/6ldqVhVEkLQ/s1600/4%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0LQeYPiz2s/VKzkx_-_4cI/AAAAAAAARLc/6ldqVhVEkLQ/s1600/4%2B(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>But moving is not reducing, which is why this has been an interim measure; I wanted to make the yarns more accessible, more visible, so more are constantly on my mind when I design. In fact, today while winding cones this afternoon, I chose some comes from the shelf to be made into warps so a small box came upstairs again. &nbsp; <br /><br />Yesterday I heard the first cicada of the season. Around here they go on for months, though. Months!<br /><br />And this year W2W15 is a lovely small group of five; I do look forward to assembling my envelope. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/in-manner-of-speaking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-5284691384530335423Fri, 02 Jan 2015 10:44:00 +00002015-01-02T23:49:35.233+13:00What WAS I ThinkingFirst off, thank you so much, participants and visitors, for the biggest Loomsday. A special thanks to <a href="http://callybooker.co.uk/blog/">Cally</a> for the spiffy name which made it more chipper. <br /><br />Yesterday after breakfast I shot my Loomsday shots and decided to tidy the stash room a little because it was mighty hard taking pictures of the three smaller looms, and it felt like a lovely thing to do at the start of the year. I was going to put the silks back into the silk box, except ones I'm using in the near future, and maybe assess how much collage/art stuff I have/want to keep. But then I did something else, (more on this in a minute,) then Skyped with Mom, and it was dinner time.<br /><br />This morning, I thought I'd check emails and Facebook before breakfast, and was astonished by the number of Loomsday communication. (Again, thanks!) It took about three hours, entering, checking, reading, commenting, etc.; and a bit several times through the day, but we had a late lunch, and I sauntered in there. <br /><br />Whenever I tidy, I sit in the space and plan before lifting the first item. But this was supposed to be an abbreviated tidying so I was OK to just start, right? Wrong! Instead of putting away the silks, I marched up to the dresser, cleared the top and started wiping it. (I have an automatic bug-killer in the window, which works well but leaves sticky residue, then dust sticks to it.)&nbsp; Though this bit was easy, (soapy water and microfiber mittens,) the magnitude of the job ahead, the dirt, blew me away.<br /><br />Plus, it's like cleaning a Japanese apartment. The hardest part is to find space to evacuate stuff so I can clean the vacated space. I now have collage/drawing material and the framed work from the drawing exhibition taking up that little extra of space I used to have.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxi_ZzqW1c8/VKZbcvmLZAI/AAAAAAAARJY/iwf2ZUcBp-0/s1600/P1390931%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yxi_ZzqW1c8/VKZbcvmLZAI/AAAAAAAARJY/iwf2ZUcBp-0/s1600/P1390931%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Believe it or not, this is the before pic. I chipped a toenail while shooting the Loomsday pics. And did you ever notice wool expands to fill whatever space is available? The biggest box under the table at the left is my wool box. I've used some, I've taken <i>a lot</i> of 17/2 wool and whatever goes nicely with them downstairs but the box is still just as full. I hate the sight of cardboard boxes, but I dislike plastic cases worse. And after all, my yarn/art stash is only temporary, right?? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhk7xa6qymE/VKZbdHW14XI/AAAAAAAARJc/4xQmHZzENA4/s1600/P1390940%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhk7xa6qymE/VKZbdHW14XI/AAAAAAAARJc/4xQmHZzENA4/s1600/P1390940%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>I washed the top two shelves, and put all good merino not 17/2 on the second top shelf. I had hoped to put the navy, brown and gray cones on the bookshelf up there, too, but ran of space. They may go to the very top. Or not. I only got this far in the afternoon heat. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVnA2pUOybw/VKZbdatswjI/AAAAAAAARJg/RwHHyPjkJJA/s1600/P1390945%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVnA2pUOybw/VKZbdatswjI/AAAAAAAARJg/RwHHyPjkJJA/s1600/P1390945%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>The floor tonight. What was I thinking not putting the silks away first. And everything evacuated to the hall and the bedroom are back for the night.<br /><br />I'm not sure how thoroughly I'm going to tidy this round. I'm not culling books even though I have too much for the space. I'm not washing the walls. I have thought of chucking out all art supplies, but that seemed a little rash. And my yarns have been culled to the point there is nothing I don't like or can't use. But there are some decorations and items intended to inspire that can go. And I don't need to keep all the collage material, surely. I've only got 1,187 days until my 60th birthday. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFqzWiubWiw/VKZjJTU4ycI/AAAAAAAARJ4/RFjVlZ53GHA/s1600/P1390920%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFqzWiubWiw/VKZjJTU4ycI/AAAAAAAARJ4/RFjVlZ53GHA/s1600/P1390920%2B(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>But all is not lost. This is what we did yesterday; we went through a few cardboard boxes which sat in the corner just inside our front door since <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2009_06_01_archive.html">June 2009</a> when we reworked my "design room". Card games, tiny picture frames, my high school and university graduation certificates; I thought it'd be a cinch to decide what to keep and what not that winter. But there they sat, the ugly copy paper boxes, until yesterday, staring at my face reminding me of the years I wasted on mild-to-moderate depression and associated indecision. They were tangible representations, the witnesses, to that time.<br /><br />I vacuumed the boxes every week. A while ago I even went through a couple and gave away some contents, but I every time I tried to tackle the rest, indecision returned like reflex even though I'm not depressed any more. After we cleaned the storage under the stairs last Monday, after we were able to sort the spillovers outside the storage space, I could not believe how the sight of no cardboard boxes lifted my spirits. And I thought I could get rid of the biggest eyesore with Ben's help.<br /><br />It took us no more than 20 minutes. And I keep walking by to make sure we can still see the corner. Because <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2006/12/how-i-made-shawl-two-candidates.html">I used to have flowers</a> and such there at one point, you see. What a sight, that corner.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XhWoB24kIIc/VKZkYKQHPgI/AAAAAAAARKE/1wVhdAOP4WA/s1600/P1390954%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XhWoB24kIIc/VKZkYKQHPgI/AAAAAAAARKE/1wVhdAOP4WA/s1600/P1390954%2B(Medium).JPG" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>Tonight we Skyped with my family gathered at my brother's house; I got to show them the lights; they can come down tomorrow. http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/what-was-i-thinking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-7406909101913610086Wed, 31 Dec 2014 22:35:00 +00002015-01-03T14:57:20.684+13:00A Day in the Life of LoomsA Day in the Life of Looms 2015<div style="text-align: center;">Happy 2015. Let this be another colorful, luxurious, even-tensioned, clean-selvedged year to us all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03-CvSGGZ0c/VKR29AHdtHI/AAAAAAAARH8/M3TZw66Kki8/s1600/1%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03-CvSGGZ0c/VKR29AHdtHI/AAAAAAAARH8/M3TZw66Kki8/s1600/1%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rigid heddle, circa 1995; she had one outing for a bag fabric in 2004.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TV6JvGD7Igk/VKR29TK0vHI/AAAAAAAARIA/XP0o8Syz-Bk/s1600/2%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TV6JvGD7Igk/VKR29TK0vHI/AAAAAAAARIA/XP0o8Syz-Bk/s1600/2%2B(Medium).JPG" height="208" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Ex-Nelson Polytechnic Weaving School sample loom; she had the same warp since mid-2010 mainly because of bad access in the crowded stash room, but the warp and the structure, Summer and Winter, have been on my mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHbu9OJ9TsQ/VKR2-WRsOgI/AAAAAAAARII/2FvamREB2jc/s1600/3%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHbu9OJ9TsQ/VKR2-WRsOgI/AAAAAAAARII/2FvamREB2jc/s1600/3%2B(Medium).JPG" height="237" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">16-shaft Klik, circa 2000; she has a semi-permanent cotton sampling warp and&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">has been a supportive collaborator when I've felt experimental. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CgbgDmkBa8/VKR2-8vRWBI/AAAAAAAARIQ/A-vRjaSGP1U/s1600/4%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CgbgDmkBa8/VKR2-8vRWBI/AAAAAAAARIQ/A-vRjaSGP1U/s1600/4%2B(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ex-Nelson Polytecnic Naggi four-shaft jack, named Jack, circa 1975;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">he's had plenty of workout in 2014. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qh4wHXpn3A/VKR7cXo2s1I/AAAAAAAARIo/-4LbV6igjyI/s1600/5%2B(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qh4wHXpn3A/VKR7cXo2s1I/AAAAAAAARIo/-4LbV6igjyI/s1600/5%2B(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="223" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Retrofit 16-shaft computer-controlled Thorp, a. k. a. Mac, age unknown but probably the 1990's; along with the car-stereo-turned-workshop-sound-system and Joe Cooker CD, my trusted colleague.<br /><br />And here are more:</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://loomtalk.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/whats-on-looms-1115.html">Dianne, Dianne's Loom Talk, New Zealand</a><br /><br /><a href="http://sampling-sampling.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Sampling, Sampling, Australia</a><br /><br /><a href="http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com.es/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Neki, A Movable Feast, Spain&nbsp;&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><a href="http://portiascloth.blogspot.com.au/">Helen, Portia's Cloth, Australia</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/patricia.collins.1276/media_set?set=a.10205570253197148.1073741830.1277194308&amp;type=3">Patricia, Facebook, UK</a><br /><br /><a href="http://woodyarn.blogspot.nl/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Margreet, Woodyarn, The Netherlands</a><br /><br /><a href="http://oddweavings.blogspot.se/2015/01/loomsday.html">Kerstin, Kerstin's Extra, Sweden</a><br /><br /><a href="http://strick17.blogspot.de/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Maliz, Strick 17, Germany</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tienchiu.com/2015/01/whats-on-the-looms/">Tien, Tien Chiu, USA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://callybooker.co.uk/2015/01/loomsday-2015/">Cally, Cally Booker Hand Weaver, UK</a><br /><br /><a href="http://honeysuckle-loom.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Holly, Honeysuckle Loom, USA </a><br /><br /><a href="http://penny.kokopop.com/2015/a-day-in-the-life-of-looms-2015/">Penny, Penny.Kokopop.com, USA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://secondwindjewelry.com/jewelry-weaving-blog/2015/01/new-year-looms-2015/">Peg, Weaving a Gem of Life, USA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://fibre2fabric.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Dot, Dot's Fibre to Fabtic, UK</a><br /><br /><a href="http://laurasloom.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/a-day.html">Laura, Weaving a Life a Day, Canada</a><br /><a href="http://vaeveren.blogspot.dk/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms.html"><br /></a><a href="http://vaeveren.blogspot.dk/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms.html">Mette, Mette Frøkjær, Denmark</a><br /><br /><a href="http://sandrarude.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.html">Sandra, Sandra's Loom Blog, USA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://fiberewetopia.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/looms-day.html">Valerie, Fiberewetopia, USA&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.saltspringweaving.com/blog/?p=1674">Terri, Weaving a Life, Canada&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lynn.jones.7796/media_set?set=a.762106980531843.1073741888.100001976454182&amp;type=3">Lynn, Facebook, Canada </a><br /><br /><a href="http://curiousweaver.id.au/archives/5009">Kaz, Curious Weaver, Australia</a><br /><br />And <a href="http://designdyebeamweave.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/highlighter.html">Kathryn, Design Dye Beam Weave, UK</a><br /><br />Thank you, participants and visitors alike, for a whopper of a Looomsday.<br />This initiative has now closed. Thanks again. </div>http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2015/01/a-day-in-life-of-looms-2015.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-7389057668379394690Wed, 31 Dec 2014 05:52:00 +00002014-12-31T18:58:03.103+13:00Nelson is ClosedI started this post about ten weeks ago. Cull as I have post ideas that looked good at the time, this one remained. I haven't researched all the details, (would appreciate input/corrections if you know any,) but feel compelled to finish so I can close my 2014.<br /><br />It could well be a testament to how out of touch I am, as I really haven't been out and about in Nelson much since I started getting ready for our 2012 exhibition around the middle of that year. It expresses my perceived reduction in push for art in Nelson since before the Global Financial Crisis in exchange for increased participation in big sports events, (Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, and Masters Games,) eroding Nelson's reputation as the arts capital of the nation.&nbsp; Most of all, I was utterly dismayed at the lack of dismay expressed at the demise of this artist-friendly facility by the general public. <br /><br />I got a call from the board of Refinery ArtSpace in October <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/10/wow-factor.html">while I was writing this post.</a> The incongruence was so startling the bad news could have only been true. Since then, I noticed the gallery has remained open, but I haven't inquired about the probably-temporary arrangement.&nbsp; <br /><br />* * * * * <br /><br /><a href="http://www.kahurangiemploymenttrust.com/refinery-artspace-current-and-past-exhibitions.html">Refinery Art Space</a> went into <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/10638424/Refinerys-demise-major-loss-Thorn">voluntary liquidation yesterday, October 17</a>. That they were struggling financially was no surprise, but it further compounds the erosion of Nelson as (at least one of) the visual art center/s of the nation. It also comes as <a href="http://www.thesuter.org.nz/">The Suter</a>, the oldest public art gallery in New Zealand and the only other not-private gallery in Nelson, <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/10633466/Temporary-home-found-for-art-gallery">prepares to relocate for major refurbishment</a>. <br /><br />Refinery is under the umbrella of <a href="http://www.kahurangiemploymenttrust.com/">Kahurangi Employment Trust</a>, so the gallery is not-for-profit, funded in part by the Nelson City Council, and all exhibitions are free to enter. I understand shop sales have dropped in recent years.<br /><br />Compared to when we first visited New Zealand in 1992, but particularly since I became aware of Arts Marketing in May 2006, I can't help feeling there has been a sea change; the focus moved away from arts towards for-profit enterprises including hosting expensive sports games. Kiwis love sports, not even I would label sports events as bad, but Nelson used to have a unique feel which started to fade even while New Zealand was said to be booming before the Financial Crisis. It feels more like other places in New Zealand. <br /><br />Selling galleries, including The Red as I knew it, and shops specializing in Nelson craft and souvenirs, changed hands, closed, (and opened); short lifespan of small businesses in New Zealand is nothing new, but these lifespans feel even shorter. I think specialist selling Nelson works have reduced. (But also true, cafes and other venues "show" art so it's probably inaccurate to say there are fewer venues. Also, the old Red was not Nelson-only.)&nbsp; <br /><br />The demise of Arts Marketing as I knew it was the biggest shock; first was the departure of Martin Rodgers, then the organnization itself, which tirelessly encouraged emerging artists and networking among artists, went. There is a new not-for-profit group which took over the Guidebook work and an event also called Arts Expo, a mega-market rather than artists-meeting-galleries/retailers, but participation fee in either is so expensive I giggled uncontrollably when I inquired about their first guidebook.&nbsp; <br /><br /><a href="http://www.acn.org.nz/">Art Council</a> and <a href="http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2007/03/and-while-were-at-it-heres-lloyd.html">Lloyd</a> are still at the same premise but on a different lease; I think Lloyd is behind the gallery staying open for the time being, but I haven't inquired nor volunteered to help. <br /><br />The <a href="http://worldofwearableart.com/">WOW</a> show, after seven years since its inception in a paddock just outside Nelson, moved to Wellington in 2004. We got a WOW museum in return, and to be fair it has a fantastic classic car display and a hallway gallery, but it is a poor relative to the show.<br /><br /><a href="http://nelson.govt.nz/recreation/venues-and-grounds/trafalgar-centre-2/">Trafalgar Centre</a> is an indoor sports facility but have acted as a performance/function venue as long as we can remember. The day we moved to Nelson in 1996, Tina Turner performed here; one of the first and last concerts we've been to was also here, an unforgettable Joe Cooker. WOW also took place here after it was upgraded from the paddock. Some years ago the City Council invested in a back stage addition for performers, but soon afterwards the building was closed down because of low-rating on earthquake risk assessment.<br /><br /><a href="http://nelson.govt.nz/recreation/venues-and-grounds/saxton-field">Saxton Field</a>, the newer sports facility, has a pavilion capable of some events; this has been used, for example for the Arts Expo but I haven't visited the venue.&nbsp; <br /><br /><a href="http://www.nsom.ac.nz/">Nelson School of Music</a>, the oldest private music institution in New Zealand, has also been closed for a few years because of earthquake risks. Among their events, <a href="http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/?gclid=CJi41ou978ICFY8kvQodZqUAWw">Adam Chamber Music Festival</a>, apparently a premier chamber music event <a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20152748/chamber-festival-launch-goes-ahead">was put at risk but will go ahead in 2015.</a> <br /><br />Theater in Nelson played second fiddle to visual arts, but <a href="http://www.theatreroyalnelson.co.nz/">Theatre Royal</a> was refurbished a few years ago; this is a venue for local and visiting productions. A new theater, <a href="http://www.playhousecafe.co.nz/">The Playhouse</a>, emerged on the outskirts some years ago and seems to be run successfully with many local productions, but we haven't been there. About the same time a small private theater we frequented went bust, and sadly I can't even remember its name. The theater in The Suter, where art house films and lectures were held occasionally, is also closed during refurbishment. (Their millennium refurbish plan failed because it proposed to do away with this theater, the director leaving after effectively telling the town to "leave it to us professionals.")<br /><br />We still have a Arts Festival in the spring, mainly performance, mainly visiting; there are other old and new "festivals" in the summer, and now in the winter. We have not gone to too many because I really stay away from crowds, and because of costs. I also don't participate in art-selling opportunities because I don't have the stamina to make a lot of things in a rush. &nbsp; <br /><br />And while I mope about the demise of an art gallery, it's actually a slightly more serious social problem that<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/10642642/Trusts-downfall-a-shame-for-region"> the Trust is going down the gurgler</a>, and very indicative of where New Zealand has been heading for a few years. The survival of the richest.<br /><br />And the title of the post; that was Lloyd's comment when I went to pick up my pieces on consignment at the gallery shop.&nbsp; <br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br />So this is the last post for 2014. And I feel I can move on. I had hoped to get some work done so I can present to you my looms in slightly different stages tomorrow, but that wasn't to be. Though we still have five hours of 2014, so maybe.<br /><br />I didn't want to end the year on a downer, but I don't exactly feel optimistic about visual arts collectively in Nelson, or more accurately Nelson as art destination, but I don't know what I base this on. For me personally, well, I just have to get my head down, bum up, weave and hope for the best.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />See you tomorrow.&nbsp; http://www.megweaves.co.nz/2014/12/nelson-is-closed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MegWeaves)13